British advanced materials’ group Haydale and Vittoria, and an Italian manufacturer of performance bicycle tires, entered into an agreement to collaborate on the innovation and supply of graphene with Vittoria already receiving its first order for one ton of functionalized graphene nanomaterial.
For the mid-term future, Vittoria and Haydale have agreed to investigate the possibility of producing functionalized graphene in Thailand, near the Vittoria factories. For this purpose, a Letter of Intent has been signed between Haydale and Vittoria’s co-owned Thai nanotech subsidiary, Graphene Creations.
As the first step in their collaboration, Vittoria and Haydale have co-developed improved rubber compounds, which laboratory and field tests have shown to further improve tire performance. Supply of the newly developed graphene compounds has already started, with the first order of one ton of functionalized graphene to be delivered in the coming months. Using its new high-capacity HT1400 plasma reactor, Haydale is able to meet Vittoria’s production requirements and stringent quality standards.
Vittoria has since 2015 pioneered the application of graphene in the rubber of bicycle tyros. The functionalized nanomaterial has been proven to create substantial improvements in grip, rolling resistance, puncture resistance, and durability.
(Source: Haydale)
